Swansboro Pilots’ Association: A Decades-Long Legacy of Community Support and Aviation Enthusiasm

Historical Context by Tom Harris, Associate Editor

One of Swansboro’s oldest ongoing community organizations is the Swansboro Pilot’s Association (SPA).  The main objectives of the SPA are to support the community including the fire department and other like-minded groups such as MVFA, and to support the Swansboro aviation community.  Most residents may not know that the Swansboro airport began as a Forest Service strip. 

When development of the Swansboro subdivision began around 1968, the airport was lengthened and paved at the same time.  Swansboro was one of the first airport communities in California.  Hence, its designation of “1” in 01CL.

Supporting the community:  Notwithstanding a brief hiatus due to the COVID panic, SPA has sponsored many activities and events in its 40-plus years of existence. The latest of these includes the annual Swansboro Clean-up Day.  Here, two 40-yard dumpsters are dropped off at the Mosquito fire station, and residents are invited to bring their large items and trash to throw away.  The service is free for residents. 

This service was set up around 2013 by Jo Thomas, an airport resident and SPA member.  It was handed off to Kim Purcell in 2018 to continue.  In addition to that, a crew is assembled on an annual basis, and SPA, MVFA, and MFPD volunteers spread out along Mosquito Road from Mosquito Cut-off to the Swing Bridge to pick up litter along the roadside. Other events that SPA has initiated in Swansboro are the first and only community blood drive and the Big Boy Toy Shows which provided funds exclusively to our fire department.  SPA has provided funds to at least seven community members in need; has contributed to the community Christmas baskets, and this past year provided for a family on its own.

SPA throws an annual hangar party where a college scholarship is awarded to a local high school senior who submits an essay containing required information such as community activities, grades, and goals.  The scholarship program was begun by a member of the SPA in 2004 and has given at least one scholarship every year since (and one year gave out three).

The pilots worked with past Mosquito Fire Chiefs to develop the evacuation plan that was used for many years.  It should be noted that only the runway and parking area are owned by the homeowner’s association.  All the other properties and hangars are privately owned.  Nevertheless, the pilots did much runway work including weed abatement, painting, crack sealing, and maintenance of the windsocks and VASI – a system to assist in safe landings.

Kim Purcell and her husband Rob Kirkpatrick have long been active in the Swansboro airport community.  They are both pilots with their airplanes.  Kim moved to Swansboro in 1990, while still working as a paramedic with the San Francisco Fire Department.  She and Rob commuted by air for many years.

Kim started flying in the early 1980s and began volunteering with the pet rescue group “Pilots and Paws” in 2009, one year after it was founded.  Kim has transported over 1500 animals including dogs, cats, birds, and even a pig, and figures she’s flown over 100,000 miles for the group. Kim says the best things about living in Swansboro are the friendly, helpful people and the beautiful countryside.  Kim served on the MFPD Support Group, MVFA, and SCPOA boards.  Rob Kirkpatrick is serving on the SCPOA board of directors for the second time.   Rob was part of the team that initiated the ten-year road plan and saw the completion of all SCPOA’s main road repaving back in 2015.

Many SPA members are currently serving on volunteer organizations in Swansboro: MFPD Support Group, SCPOA and MVFA to name a few.  They believe the best way to show one’s appreciation for one’s community is to give back to it, with no expectation of reward or recognition.

“Living Legends of Aviation” is a group of aviation enthusiasts that sponsor a fund-raiser to benefit the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy.  Kiddie Hawk is a non-profit organization that emphasizes math, science and engineering and introduces kids to aviation.   Kim and Rob recently attended the annual gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills.  Also representing Swansboro pilots were residents Steve Loree and Dan VanDusen.  Attending this year was host John Travolta, and pilot celebrities Harrison Ford, Curt Russell, William Shatner, Prince Harry, Morgan Freeman, Tom Cruise and our own neighbor and group dinner companion, former aerobatic champion Julie Clark.